Szasz puts opponent to the sword as Hungary parties in Rio

The Hungarian beat Italy’s double world champion Rossella Fiamingo 15-13 to claim glory. It was Hungary’s third women’s gold in Olympic fencing since 2000 and represented a remarkable comeback in the Games from Szasz, who had lost in the first round in London four years ago. “I'm very happy. I don't believe it at the moment, maybe in a few days (I will),” said Szasz. “I believed in myself and my fencing, and I did it. (I felt that I won) only at the end when I made the last touch.”

France came close to ending a long medal drought in Olympic fencing, but a breakout performance by 43rd-ranked Lauren Rembi came up short in the bronze medal match. Sun Yiwen's third-place finish helped Chinese fans forget the shock 15-8 loss by her team mate Xu Anqi, ranked first in the world, to Frenchwoman Marie-Florence Candassamy in her first bout. “I think it is an amazing day,” said Yiwen. “Whatever the result, I feel really happy to be here to compete in the Olympic Games. “This bronze medal really gave me more confidence. I have yet to get in contact with (parents and friends) because I don't want to be distracted, and they don't want to distract my attention, so I just like to keep to myself.”

Hungarian women are second only to the Italians in Olympic medals, but had not topped the podium since Tímea Nagy took back-to-back golds in the epee event in Sydney and Athens. France left the Games empty-handed four years ago in London for the first time since 1960 and the women's individual epee event extended their long wait. Rembi had looked medal-bound as she silenced the roaring Brazilian crowd to beat local favourite Nathalie Moellhausen in the quarter-finals. Moellhausen did, though, give the home crowd plenty to cheer on a memorable afternoon thanks to early victories over American Kelley Hurley and France's Candassamy. It was the best finish for a Brazilian woman in Olympic fencing.